Uganda lies entirely between the two arms of the Great Rift Valley in East Africa. To the west, it borders Zaire. This border coincides with the western Rift Valley occupied from north to south by Lakes Albert, Edward, George and Kivu. It is the most culturally diverse country in the world where by it has over 60 groups of people and over 30 indigenous languages. English and Kiswahili are the two official languages although English is mostly fluent to urban people than the rural people.
Uganda has a very strong cultural heritage where by many regions have kingdoms including Buganda, Busoga, Bunyoro and Toro. Ugandans are hospitable and come from a diversity of rich cultures and life styles. Each tribe has its own traditional dance. For example the Banyankole perform their Kitagururo dance, Banyoro perform Runyege, Bwora and Otole dances for the Acholi. The Alur people from the West Nile have the traditional Agwal dance, Bagisu have the Imbalu dance during circumcision ceremonies. The Bantu groups of people occupy the Southern half of the country and they constitute over 50 percent of Uganda’s total Population. They were the earliest group to come to Uganda and comprise of Baganda, Banyoro, Basoga, Banyankole, Bakiga, Bafumbira, Batooro, Bakonjo, the Bamba, the Batwa, Banyole, Basamia- Bagwe and the Baggwere. Generally they occupy the East, Central, West, and Southern parts of Uganda
Uganda’s diversity is boosted in the northeast by the presence of the karimojong, traditional cattle keepers and in the northwest by a patchwork of agricultural people whose languages and cultures are rooted in what is now currently Sudan. The Rwenzori foothills are home to the Bakonjo whose hunting shrines are dedicated to a one-legged, armed, eyed pipe smoking people.
Uganda’s various cultures become quite evident as you visit the Ndere Center and witness the various cultural, traditional dances performed from across Uganda.